moorthy@bwinkle.ctt.bellcore.com (Velusamy Sembugamoorthy) (08/27/90)
Does anyone know about the significance of the golden light in Jesus' heart? I am looking for a better answer than "golden light means good and pure heart." In Christian literature, does anyone talk about an entity with golden light in its heart where Love springs forth. /moorthy [I just searched the NT for "gold*". The only thing I found was Rev 1:13, which has Christ wear a golden girdle. However in that vision, the only light that shined from him was his face, particularly his eyes. I assume you're talking about non-Biblical literature. --clh]
cms@gatech.edu (08/30/90)
In article <Aug.26.22.49.30.1990.998@athos.rutgers.edu>, moorthy@bwinkle.ctt.bellcore.com (Velusamy Sembugamoorthy) writes: > Does anyone know about the significance of the golden light in > Jesus' heart? I am looking for a better answer than "golden light > means good and pure heart." In Christian literature, does anyone > talk about an entity with golden light in its heart where Love > springs forth. > /moorthy > > [I just searched the NT for "gold*". The only thing I found was Rev > 1:13, which has Christ wear a golden girdle. However in that vision, > the only light that shined from him was his face, particularly his > eyes. I assume you're talking about non-Biblical literature. --clh] I would hazard a guess that the golden light is fire. The New Testament often speaks of fire in terms of purification, such as 1 Cor 3:13, 1 Pet 1:7; gold is tested in fire. The idea can also be found in the Old Testament in Sir 2:5, 2 Esdras 16:73. Isaiah 10:17 says "the Light of Israel will become a fire, Israel's Holy One a flame." Jesus Christ is the Light "to enlighten the Gentiles" and glorify Israel. The idea is that the Sacred Heart of Jesus is "gold tested in fire." It's a powerful image. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is widespread. Perhaps my favorite image is Sister Faustina's Devotion to the Divine Mercy. Sister Faustina relates that Our Lord appeared to her in this way: "In the evening, when I was in my cell, I became aware of the Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand was raised in blessing, the other was touching the garment at the breast. From the opening in the garment at the breast there came forth two large rays, one red, and the other pale. In silence I gazed intently at the Lord; my soul was overwhelmed with fear, but also with great joy. After a while Jesus said to me: 'paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the inscription: Jesus, I trust in You.'" Later, Our Lord Jesus said to her: "The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous; the red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the depths of My most tender Mercy at that time when My agonizing Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross...Fortunate is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him." In another vision, Sister Faustina relates: "I saw a great light, with God the Father in the midst of it. Between this light and the earth I saw Jesus nailed to the Cross and in such a way that God, wanting to look upon the earth, had to look through Our Lord's wounds. And I understood that God blessed the earth for the sake of Jesus." One of Sister Faustina's prayers, found in her diary, reads: "You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O fount of life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty yourself out upon us." Sister relates that immediately afterwards Jesus spoke to her again with an unexpected request: "At three o'clock implore My mercy especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, steep yourself in My Passion, particularly at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world. ...In this hour I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion." Later, the Lord spoke to her again: "I remind you, My daughter, that as often as you hear the clock strike the third hour, immerse yourself completely in My mercy, adoring and glorifying it; invoke its omnipotence for the whole world, and particularly for poor sinners, for at that moment [mercy] was opened wide for every soul. In this hour you can obtain everytying for yourself and for others for the asking; it was the hour of grace for the whole world -- mercy triumphed over justice. "My daughter, try your best to make the Stations of the Cross in this hour, provided that your duties permit it; and if you are not able to make the Stations of the Cross, then at least step into the chapel for a moment and adore in the Most Blessed Sacrament My Heart, which is full of mercy; and should you be unable to step into chapel, immerse yourself in prayer there, where you happen to be, if only for a very brief instant. I claim veneration for My mercy from every creature...." A final prayer of Sister Faustina, taught her by Our Lord, which she repeated every morning and often during the day to renew her act of consecration to the Divine Mercy: "O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a found of mercy for us, I trust in You." Source: various booklets (Association of Marian Helpers, Congregation of Marians). Sister M. Faustina Kowalska was an Apostle of Divine Mercy and a Servant of God in the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy (1905 -- 1938). -- Sincerely, Cindy Smith _///_ // SPAWN OF A JEWISH _///_ // _///_ // <`)= _<< CARPENTER _///_ //<`)= _<< <`)= _<< _///_ // \\\ \\ \\ _\\\_ <`)= _<< \\\ \\ \\\ \\ <`)= _<< >IXOYE=('> \\\ \\ \\\ \\_///_ // // /// _///_ // _///_ // emory!dragon!cms <`)= _<< _///_ // <`)= _<< <`)= _<< \\\ \\<`)= _<< \\\ \\ \\\ \\ GO AGAINST THE FLOW! \\\ \\ A Real Live Catholic in Georgia